Gujarat HC grants bail to woman accused of daughter’s murder; cites poverty and starvation
The Gujarat High Court granted bail to a woman accused of killing her toddler, citing extreme poverty and starvation as systemic failures. The court emphasized that the state has a constitutional obligation to ensure basic necessities like food and healthcare for vulnerable citizens.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of criminal law and social welfare, suggesting that systemic poverty should be a factor in judicial considerations regarding individual culpability.
The Gujarat High Court granted regular bail last week to a Surat woman accused of beating her two-year-old daughter to death, observing, that the case exposes a broader failure of the State and society to protect vulnerable families from hunger and extreme poverty.
Granting bail to Lakhiben Solanki, who has been in custody since her arrest in March, Justice Hasmukh D. Suthar said the incident should not be viewed solely as an individual crime but as a reflection of systemic shortcomings in ensuring access to basic necessities such as food, healthcare and dignity.
According to the prosecution, Ms. Solanki allegedly assaulted her two-year-old daughter, Eesha, after the child repeatedly asked for food. The case was registered at the Varachha police station in Surat.
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